Current performance evaluation is limited to a determination of whether the vessel performed in accordance with charter party

Analysis of Sample Fleet

"Tactical Performance Monitoring is about Saving the Money you didn't know you Lost"

The sample fleet consists of 22 vessels in the handy-size range tramping worldwide. Masters are employed by the vessel operator and well motivated. The fleet is modern and well maintained. Various weather routing companies are employed primarily during the winter months. Otherwise routing is left to the master's discretion. Before retroactive Tactical performance analysis, shore management was of the opinion that all voyages had been performed efficiently within the constraints imposed by the weather.

Results

Speed and consumption warranties for the whole fleet were satisfactory. Tactical performance evaluations for the 80 voyages showed a deficit of approximately $600,000 in excess fuel and daily operating costs. Carbon emissions were approximately 1,400 metric tons in excess of budget.

Noticeable Trends

Of the 80 voyages analyzed, the most noticeable trend is that tactical performance is better in winter than summer. The months of January & February score well when compared to June & July. This is a surprising result given that the 80 voyages are predominantly Northern Hemisphere. It would be more intuitive to expect lower tactical performance in the winter hemisphere.

Because this company operates a policy of using the services of weather routers in winter, the analysis suggests that such a policy is beneficial. However the significant losses in June & July require further investigation

When the data is analyzed by vessel it is apparent that ship 25 has a serious tactical performance deficit when compared to the rest of the fleet.

Furthermore, a significant portion of the total deficit can be attributed to vessel 25. This vessel is responsible for 40% of all hours lost fleet wide in the period under consideration. Page 5 of the fleet analysis lists the 5 passages with lowest tactical performance. Vessel 25 features in 3 of the 5 voyages for a total loss of 146 hours. It can be seen from viewing the voyage videos that all 3 voyages contained geographical deviations that were not warranted by the prevailing weather conditions. The same master was in command for this period of time and no weather routing service was used.

Conclusions

1. The master of vessel 25 requires routing assistance during summer months. This can be provided by the Realdistance.com automatic routing service at low cost.

2. All fleet masters will benefit by varying degrees from low cost, year round, automated routing technology.

3. Many masters are unaware of the financial and environmental ramifications of their own routing decisions. Establishing a practice of sending the vessel a tactical performance report on completion of each passage will heighten awareness of what is arguably the masters most important financial decision.

4. Despite deficits in tactical performance, vessel speed and consumption performance is satisfactory.